Enemies to faith (2c) (OUR INHERITANCE IN CHRIST!)

Failure to realize and understand the package we have in Christ is a major enemy to faith. Last Sunday we looked at the new position you have attained because of what Christ has done for us on the Cross at Calvary. Today, we are going to look at our inheritance in Christ.

In Galatians 4:4-7 the Bible says, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Since you are a son, you are an heir of God the Father because you are in Christ.

What is inheritance? Inheritance is something that is or may be inherited. Inheritance is the acquisition of a possession, condition or trait from past generations.

The Bible teaches that the inheritance we have in Christ is priceless, pure (incorruptible), undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay (1 Pet. 1:4-5).

This inheritance cannot be taken away by thieves, your economy, or your Government. It is not and will never be within their reach.

Who is an heir? In Greek, ‘an heir’ is one who receives an inheritance by right of birth. 

So if you have been Born Again into the royal family of God, everything that belongs to God the Father belongs to you. Hallelujah!

The Bible says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Ps. 24:1a). This means that the earth and everything in it belong to me.

There are two aspects of our inheritance. The first aspect is the eternal scope and the second is the here and now. God wants the eyes of our understanding to be opened to both of these aspects. 

The Scriptures declare that the believer’s inheritance belongs to him NOW, and in the life to come (1 Cor. 3:21-22).

1. Our eternal inheritance (Tit. 3:7). I believe it is very important for us to catch a glimpse of what our eternal inheritance is going to consist of, because it will help us to endure all that comes our way in this life when we see the greater glory that is awaiting us. 

Psalms 31:19 says, “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! “

1 Corinthians 2:9 says, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 

The Bible is not real specific on the details of all the things that await us, but it does say that it will be beyond our expectations and imaginations. It's going to be great! 

In John 14:1-4 Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house (there) are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” 

2. Our spiritual inheritance here and now. Being a join-heir with Christ means that we actually begin to partake of His blessings right now. He has given to us the Holy Spirit of promise as a down payment. 

Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” 

Psalms 36:8 says, “They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.” 

With this understanding, we can establish 4 things:

1. We are heirs of God the Father (Rom. 8:15-17). Christians are rich spiritually, materially and physically but only a few are aware of this fact, believing instead that they are not to receive any of their inheritance now, nor benefit from it in this present life, but only in the world to come. 

2. We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:15-17; Gal. 3:29). Yes! When you got Born Again, Jesus moved into your life with everything He had.

3. We are heirs of all things. Galatians 4:7 says, “Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are His child, everything He has belongs to you.” 

4. We are heirs of everything NOW, not only when we die (Col. 1:12). God the Father has (past tense) made us partakes of the inheritance of the saints. 

If you are a Born Again believer, you have a covenant with God the Father. In Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “.....God the Father has appointed Jesus Christ as heir of all things that belong to Him...”

If you are joint heirs with Jesus Christ, and Jesus is heir of all things, then that implies that you are heir of all things as well.

Our inheritance in Christ includes whatever supply we need that is in line with God’s will.

Proverbs 8:17-21 says, “....that I might cause those that love me to INHERIT substance, that I might fill their treasuries” (NIV).

Who are those that love God? They are those that do the Word, do His will, obey Him.

Beloved, if you love the LORD, He will cause you to inherit substance, and He will fill your treasury.

According to the Scriptures, you have inheritance in Christ. We can but mention only a few. Concerning your inheritance (possession) in Christ, God says:

1. All the promises of God in the Bible belong to you (2 Cor. 1:20).
2. You have Eternal life (Jn. 17:3).
3. You have all the things that pertain unto life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). 
4. You are partakers of the divine nature of Christ (2 Pet. 1:4). 
5. You have the power and anointing in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, 1 Jn. 2:27). 
6. You have the forgiveness of sins (1 Jn. 1:9).
7. You have freedom from guilt (Rom. 8:1). 
8. You have divine health (Ex. 15:26, 3 Jn. v. 2). 
9. You have divine healing (Isa. 53:4-5; 1 Pet. 2:24). 
10. You have the assurance that our needs will be met (Matt. 6:33). 
11. You have the prosperity in all things including your soul (3 Jn. 1:2). 
12. You have love, joy, peace and righteousness in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17).  
13. You are more than conquerors in all things (Rom. 8:37). 
14. You have an abundance of grace for every good work (2 Cor. 9:8). 
15. You have divine guidance (Rom. 8:14). 
16. You have divine protection (Ps. 91). 
17. You are co-labourers with God (1 Cor. 3:9). 
18. You are seated together in heavenly places with Christ (Eph.  2:6, 1:20). 
19. You have abundant life (Jn. 10:10).
20. You have all the spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3).
21. Your name written is written in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:15, 21).
22. You have the nature of God (2 Pet. 1:4).
23. You have no condemnation anymore (Rom. 8:1-2; Jn. 3:18-19).
24. You have been justified, made righteous and brought into a new relationship with Him (Rom. 5:1, 9).
25. You have been delivered from the power of darkness (Col. 1:13, Col. 2:14-15). 
26. You have been delivered from the curse of the law (spiritual death, sickness and poverty (Gal. 3:13).
27. You have the blessing of Abraham (Gal. 3:14, 29).
28. You have redemption through His blood (Col. 1:14).
29. You have been reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18; Col. 1:20).
30. You have the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18), and the Word of reconciliation also (2 Cor. 5:19). 
31. You have the Spirit of Christ in your spirit-man (Gal.4:6). 
32. You have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4).
33. You have been accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6). 
34. You have access to the Father (Eph. 2:18; Rom. 5:2).
35. You have the citizenship of heaven (Phil. 3:20). And as a citizen of heaven, you have the angels and the power of prayer at your disposal (Matt. 16:19; Heb. 1:14). 
36. You have the Name of Jesus Christ (Mk. 16:17; Jn. 16:23).
37. You have the Blood of Jesus (Rev. 12:11).
38. You have the whole Armour of God (Eph. 6:10-18).
39. You have divine protection (Col. 3:3; Zech. 2:5).
40. You have been translated into the everlasting Kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13; 2 Pet. 1:11). 
41. You have been called out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Pet. 2:9). Whatever kind of darkness, despair, guilt, addiction, grief, and bitterness - Jesus has saved you from them all.
42. You have the Spirit of power, love and sound mind (2 Tim. 1: 7).
43. You have the creative ability of God in you. 
44. You have passed from death to life (1 Jn. 3:14; Jn. 5:24).
45. You have a glorious future in Christ (Jer. 29:11; Ps. 37:37). 
46. You have long life (Ps. 90:10; 91:16; Gen. 6:3). You are simply indestructible.
47. You have the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:30). 
48. You have been redeemed. God the Father chose me, adopted me, accepted me in the Beloved and redeemed me. All my sins have been forgiven. Therefore, I am now free to serve Christ. 
49. You have been enlightened concerning the mystery of His will (Eph. 1:9). 

God has given you a new sense of understanding. You can now understand the mysteries of God which you could not understand before you received Christ as your Lord and Saviour. When you get saved, God gives you an understanding [enlightened] mind. 

In 1 Corinthians 2:14 the Bible says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Conclusion: As we come to understand our inheritance in Christ, we realize that the source for everything is wrapped up in Him.  The realization of the package you have in Christ makes you more than a conqueror. It helps you to have a very sound opinion of yourself – a positive self-image. Talk about who you are in Christ. Think it! Believe it! Confess it! As you do this, your faith will abound and you will effectively exercise dominion over the devil walking in total victory everyday of your life.

Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!

Your friend: I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor)  02.02.2020